• Public money wasted

• Kapugedara's fireworks

• Why probe the NGOs?

• Banks and independence

• Matara General Hospital

• Kalutara-Nagoda hospital needs paying ward

• Eastern Province Development Fund

• Rights of elders
  
   

Public money wasted

Even before the nominations for the Local Government elections posters and advertisements of prospective candidates have begun to disfigure (or is it adorn?) the walls of public and private properties.

After the elections the police will go about removing these posters and erasing the advertisements on the walls for which they will get a tidy sum from the Commissioner of Elections. But whose money will he be paying? Will it not be the money of the suffering public?

The police will not stop the pasting of posters and writing of slogans on the walls now as more the pasting of posters and writing of slogans on the walls, the more they will get from the Commissioner of Elections from the public money.

The Government must see that the money of the suffering public is not wasted like this. If the candidates want to paste their posters and write their slogans on the walls let them do it but pay for their removal after the elections.

If the candidates do not pay for them the parties to which they belong should be made to pay for them. At any event the public should not be made to pay for the party's and candidate's propaganda and glorification.

ARUL -
Colombo 13

Kapugedara's fireworks

From down under, Kapugedara lifted both the cricket ball and the spirits of Sri Lankans at home by his fantastic display, during the first final of the VB series.

The splurge of sixes and fours revitalized the team to head on to an unprecedented victory at Adelaide. The ball soared magically like a Kangaroo hopping over the rooftops of the stadium. It was Kapugedara's finest moment so early in his career. The youngster made his mark at a renowned international stadium - an unforgettable event in his life.

A nation draggling its feet from one peace process to another in a desperate bid to break from the bleak situation, suddenly lit up with joy and happiness, thanks to Kapugedara's fireworks.

Sunil J. Peiris -
Moratuwa

Why probe the NGOs?

Those who had any reservations about the need to probe the NGOs would have got their doubts cleared after reading the recent reports that appeared in the media in the past few days.

There was the accusation by no less a person than Muthiah Muralitharan who charged that the World Vision which had raised more than $14 million at the Melbourne Cricket match for tsunami relief had not allocated any money to the southern region of the country.

The response of the World Vision Chief was that he had seen work completed by the charity in Sri Lanka. Of course he did not specify what type of work and where. Then there was the allegation by the Minister Ashroff that number of foreign NGOs had not only failed to deliver the goods but also had left the country without fulfilling their obligations.

Added to it, the Government spokesman Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva had confirmed that there had been concern about reconstruction by some foreign charities. A UK newspaper recently had the following to say about the NGOs and relief work in Sri Lanka.

"Soon after the tsunami there were about 500 NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations) that landed in Sri Lanka. With their share of tsunami money, each organisation claimed to be doing relief work. It is enough to look at some NGOs' operations to get an overall picture of what was happening to the tsunami money and why the victims are still suffering."

While these refer to the foreign NGOs and relief work involving tsunami, there had been frequent allegations about their counterparts in Sri Lanka. So, in fairness to all those NGOs, probe should also be extended to cover the local ones.

It is not a witch hunt as some people think; but if there are witches and demons that are having a debilitating effect on the country they should be identified and exorcised.

PGP -
Colombo

Banks and independence

The day prior to Independence day all the banks were closed releasing a deep depressed sorrow on all the community.

It never did any good feelings towards Independence. Is it not a good idea to display such 'accidental' holidays on a notice board not within the bank premises but outside, so as the innocent customers are not to be routinely guillotined.

PREMALAL DE ABREW

Matara General Hospital

It is with great sense of gratitude that I pen these few lines to extend a big bouquet of thanks to the doctors, nurses and the staff of the Matara General Hospital where I was treated for my sudden illness of unbearable chest pain which I had never experienced while enjoying my long journey from Kataragama to Colombo on December 8, 2005.

I had never been to a government hospital for treatments for the merit of my good health and more over fearing that I would not be treated well. Story is not the same. I was given the best treatment and got recovered soon.

I must really be indebted to the Cardiologist who saved my life which I felt beyond recovery and nurses and attendants to whom I don't hesitates to doff my hat in salute.

The memories I collected would be a life long source of pleasure teemed with gratitude.

PALITHA BATUWITAGE -
Colombo 9

Kalutara-Nagoda hospital needs paying ward

Since December 2004 I have been often falling ill and is warded at the Nagoda Hospital for treatment. The wards are so crowded but the authorities have no option.

I understand, sometimes there are three patients to a bed. Almost every patient has someone by the side during day and night to care for the patients' needs.

It can be imagined how crowded a ward could be under such circumstances. The toilets too need proper maintenance.

In this circumstance it is suggested that a paying ward of at least fifty beds would ease the problem considerably.

May the hospital authorities give heed to this suggestion.

I. P. NANAYAKKARA -
Kalutara

Eastern Province Development Fund

The Eastern Province has suffered hugely on account of the current war situation and also because of ethnic enmities that has surfaced on account of the war.

For instance the LTTE has taken over 70,000 acres of land belonging to thousands of Muslims and the Government has not been able to obtain this land for us and our MPs who are mostly corrupt have done nothing about it. We need therefore either to reconcile ourselves to this and to get on with our lives by involving ourselves in other development activities or fight which we don't want to do.

Eastern Province has suffered like no other province and we would urge the Government to establish an Eastern Province Development Authority and create a Fund with the assistance of Islamic Embassies of the Middle East who are prepared to contribute lavishly to such a fund. This would help to transform this District and also to end inter-ethnic problems which have surfaced on account of our poverty.

M. I. M. IBRA LEBBE -
Sammanthurai

Rights of elders

I am a retired State Executive in good health presently occupying two rooms in a paying Elders' Home. There are about 25 other such occupants (male and female) most of whom have decided to stay here till their last journey. This institution is situated at Pittugala, Malabe on a beautiful land donated by a philanthropher (7 1/2 acres in extent) and the rooms occupied by the elders have been put up by donors.

This is now managed (really mismanaged) by the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress by a Working Committee of Colombo Lions with its Hony. Treasurer, a local mudalali. He supplies all services and gathers huge benefits at the expense of elders.

Most of the members of this Working Committee have for years, occupying the key positions on a rotation basis, with a key man giving all commands. The selection of this committee is a closely guarded secret. The large scale malpractices and misuse of funds have gone unabated and any meek attempt made by elders to remedy this state of affairs has only roused wrath of these 'volunteers' and those elders have been openly rebuked and threatened.

They have been asked to seek lodgings elsewhere and thereafter consistently harassed. They are now like wounded horses and are at their mercy who act as colonial sahibs.

The monthly collection is very high. Many elders are prepared to get into this working committee and give their best voluntarily and effect considerable savings and guide them, as the occupying elders know how best their financial contributions could be utilized. There are only a few female workers and no male to attend on males.

These females have to take patients in the nights by three wheelers at great risks to themselves to hospitals. The surroundings are thoroughly neglected and dirty. There can be health hazards soon, if ignored. The urgent repairs are ignored.

I am compelled to seek your guidance and advice as to how best the elders here could focus the attention of this Working Committee as repeated representations to the main ACBC had been of no avail. The recent Court order against the ACBC also shows that their management too is questionable.

May I know whether we aging elders are not fit and proper to be included in this working committee whatever rules they may have framed to protect their interests. These unwise men should know that things have changed enormously globally.

S. DE S. PINNADUWAGE -
Malabe